Minn. High School Sued Over Racially-Charged ‘Wigger’ Homecoming Theme
- Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:00am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
Quera Pruitt
A former student is taking Red Wing High School to court. Quera Pruitt, a 19-year-old who graduated from the Minnesota school last year, is suing for allowing what she sees as an offensive, racially-charged homecoming event to go on without punishing the offending students.
The event, called “Wigger Day,” was celebrated by students who commemorated it by coming to school in oversized jerseys, baggy and sagging pants, side-cocked baseball caps and, perhaps most indicative of the racial nature of the celebration, doo rags.
To opponents like Pruitt, the premise (not to mention the name) of the event was a play off of the infamous “n-word,” which is highly offensive to African Americans. Watch her mother, Maxine, appear on MSNBC to discuss the situation:
Pruitt is charging that Red Wing High School officials, including the principal, were well aware of the offensive nature of the event and that they simply ignored it. She is seeking $75,000 in damages, citing emotional distress, depression, stress, crying, humiliation and a plethora of other emotions.
As a result of the event, she claims she dropped out of cheerleading and student council; she even considered leaving the school. Time’s NewsFeed provides more background about how the situation has devolved:
Homecoming typically involves a flurry of themed events that lead up to the big game. In 2009, the student body designated Sept. 30 as “Tropical Day,” but according to the federal class action suit, about 70 students declared it “Wednesday Wigger Day” instead. Pruitt says the high school, where 3% of the 900 students are black, celebrated “Wigger Day,“ also known as ”Wangsta Day,” between 2007 and 2009.
An image of Red Wing students dressed in baggy clothing
The offensive nature of the event was captured when it first happened back in 2009. In an interview published on KARE11.com, Pruitt explained her take on the event as follows: ”They hurt my feelings. No one asked me how I felt about it.”
Another student, Alissia Humphreys, explained, “I have a right to be comfortable at school, and I don’t appreciate that being taken away from me and making me feel uncomfortable.” But, back in 2009, at least according to KARE11.com, school officials seemed like they were taking control of the situation:
Red Wing Superintendent Stan Slessor says the district is disappointed with the students actions and words — whether or not they were intended to be offensive. Officials did require the students to change their clothes immediately. No more punishment has followed, but the district does plan to use the incident to teach tolerance.
Courtesy of CityPages.com
Interestingly, CityPages.com reports a fact that didn’t make its way into some other outlets: The principal did tell students to change their offensive clothing. Regardless of whether this is true with certainty, the news site corroborated the fact that no one was punished for participating in “Wigger Wednesday.”
There’s another element here, though, that further complicates the situation. Following the incident, it appears as though a Facebook group called “Wigger Wednesday” (which has now been removed) was used to potentially cyber-bully Pruitt. Apparently, it read, “let’s keep wigger wednesday goin til that [derogatory term] quits.” One wonders: Was this “quitting” in reference to Pruitt’s cheerleading? If so, the students’ efforts were successful.
You can read the entire text of the legal complaint here.
(h/t Time’s NewsFeed)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 706 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 557 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 371 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 362 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 371 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 289 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (122)
13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:27pmShould have called it a Chigger Party
You know those pesky little gnat like bugs that eat you alive while doing nothing good for society. Like lawyers and easily offended thin skinned twits.
Report Post »scootermagic
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 5:23pmThe only people I have heard use the “n” word regularly and with bravado are….wait for it….black people!!
Report Post »txbigfoot
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:10pmOMG hurt feelings are NOT a cause of action. Our society has become a nanny state of gimme I deserve it. I say buckle up baby and get your bible guns and little friends ready. This is going to get ugly.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:17pmWould it have been okay to call it ******* day? Looks like someone is just trying to make some money.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 9:34pmSadly not JUST black kids dress like that now.. it’s become a fad.. even IF your kid leaves the house looking normal what’s to say that they will arrive at where ever they are going still looking the same..? I am SICK of all the EMOTIONAL STRESS BS.. they should have called it a RAP day.. OR they could have worn white sheets and said they were the DEMOCRATS of yesteryear..
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 10:44pm***********ATTENTION**********JZS
Would love to hear how the logic used to shape your political views stem from your everyday life, with examples…if you care to explain. I’m sure you agree that anyone espousing something upon others that they would not personally subject themselves to is despicable. Here are a few examples.
I can find no way that spending more money than I make annually will produce anything but negative results in my personal life. Therefore, I can’t agree with that theory as the foundation for government spending.
There is nothing in my personal life that is alive and growing that I could classify as not alive. I believe that if you cause something to cease to be alive, you have killed it. Therefore I can’t support abortion.
If given the choice of being armed or un-armed during a home invasion, I would choose to be armed. I could never support gun control that does not allow LAW ABIDING CITIZENS to have the same choice. I do not understand how someone can read the second amendment and think it is an argument AGAINST gun ownership.
I assume if you don’t respond it’s because you did not read this, not because you advocate political ideas that you would not be comfortable being personally subjected to.
Report Post »naed5048
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 2:41amThat gives me a good idea……I can now sue for the use of the word *******………..I‘m rich I’m rich …..praise be I’m rich
Report Post »ru12
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42amAnyone else remember Sadie Hawkins Dances? Thank God the “hillbillies” didn’t get hurt feelings and sue!
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:27pmIs it not “offensive” when we have racial flash mobs attacking stores, looting and pillaging, and rampaging, beating people up at the Wisconsin State Fair?
Our lawyers have gotten out of control. Every time some yahoo hears or sees something they don’t like they go running off to see a lawyer because they think they just won the jackpot. If I had a nickel for every time someone offended me, I could afford to buy off George Soros. What ever happened to personal responsibility? Oh wait, I forgot. Liberals made it politically incorrect. But theft, looting, rape, thuggery racism etc. is just fine with them!
http://www.neuezeitgeist.wordpress.com
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:15pmUpon those whom have released this will it come. Vengence is mine says the LORD.
Report Post »Tyras
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:26pmOne can’t complain about stereotypes when they live up to that stereotype. That’s not an excuse for the racist terms used, but if a black person complains that a white person is mocking them by dressing the exact same way they do on a given day… isn’t that racist as well? A white kid can’t wear their pants around their knees and baggy shirts with gaudy jewlery? That’s a blacks only thing? This is manufactured anger stoked by the race pimps that have made an industry of keeping Americans divided.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:38pmTyras,
The difference here is there’s no proof the girl behaved poorly (until she wanted to sue for $75K over something that didn’t actually damage her).
From her picture, she doesn’t dress out of the norm. The problem was the inappropriate behavior of the white kids at the school, and the failure of the Superintendant and Principal to hold them accountable.
IF there were black children at the school dressing inappropriately, the Superintendant and the Principal should have dealt with them, too.
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:21pm“perhaps most indicative of the racial nature of the celebration, doo rags.”
What the heck is a “doo rag”?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:25pmFirst Google result:
Report Post »A do-rag, also spelled doo-rag, du-rag, durag is a piece of cloth used to cover the head. According to the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster the term derives from ‘do as in hairdo.
chips1
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 5:58pmDoos I be lookin gug. I’s be thinkin yo.
Report Post »TxSon
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:11pmSorry. You don’t have a right to not be offended. However, you do have a right to say you are offened. Bravo! You have exercised your 1st amendment right. Now go get a life.
Report Post »dangarh01
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:10pmShe needs to get a life. She’s 19, and already graduated. Grow up, you’re not in high school anymore. Why would she care what her old school is doing? Im glad they made this event. Back when I was in high school all the white kids thought it was cool to dress and act like this. At least this school is showing how ridiculous it is to act and dress this way.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:16pmWow. You’re glad they did it? So, someone else’s bad behavior demands an answer in kind, does it?
That’s very mature. Please tell me you don’t identify with the Tea Party.
Report Post »AR_OR_AK
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:30pmWhen I was in school, a wigger was a white kid who thought they were black. I’m sorry, but 99% of white kids who dress all thugged out just look absolutely ridiculous…. It’s the gang mentality and pyramid scheme of the gangs that keeps blacks down, not whitey. Git a grip people!!!
Report Post »margaret1977
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:09pmPOOR LITTLE N…..O always looking how to make money of white people !!! nothing new!
Report Post »stpppim
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:32pmNice BMD!
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:03pmDo I have a right NOT to be offended? Or must I belong to a protected class?
Report Post »Stupid homecoming theme for Red Wing MN. The dress theme they chose is standard garb in most Minneapolis high schools.
Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:10pmI don’t see anything about this story that justifies your statements.
The girl shouldn’t get $75K. That’s obvious.
The students who intentionally acted poorly should have received more serious punishment.
The Superintendant and Principal should be fired for failing to discipline the students.
The parents of the jerk students are morons.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:06pmThe justification for the statement is called freedom of speech which you object to in all of your posts. Total control of a persons thoughts and speech sounds like your marxist muslim buddy, BO.
Report Post »insaneserenity
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 9:03pmdude what are you smoking? I want some of that. This story is a joke. Some dumb moron wants free money. Schools should tell kids what they can and cannot wear? Um, no. There’s a little thing called the first amendment.
It is quite histerical to me, and frankly they should do it every year.
The word “wigger” is suppose to be an insult to white people, not black people. Stuck Mojo even did a song about it.
No one has a right to feel comfortable anywhere. No one has a right to anything not in the Bill of Rights, at this point pretty much 99% of what dumb leftists claim is in there isn’t.
Tell them to get over themselves and grow up, and leave it at that. No one should be fired, no one should be punished for wearing clothes. That is about as immature a reaction as one can have.
Report Post »forthepeople
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:00pmAnimals = one word says it all .
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:05pmYep, the students to came up with the idea and dressed like jerks are complete animals. Where in the world were their parents?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:58pmThe students behaved inappropriately, but the school did what they could to stop them (by making them change their clothing). The school itself did not endorse or condone the event. Sorry miss; not much else they can do.
The students involved probably should have received some kind of punishment, but my support of the girl kinda fled when I read she’s suing the school for $75k.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:57pmFolks who doesn’t see anything wrong with this have some serious issues.
Report Post »joesample
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:55pmSo sorry the little ***** was offended.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:03pmJoe, go be a douche at HuffPo, can’t you? Your racism is disgusting.
Report Post »Deckle
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:52pmThis is nonsense. Girl get a life!
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:05pmHey, she has a life. The behavior of the students who participated was wrong. The principle minimally should have pulled all the parents in.
Maybe $75K in damages is ridiculous, but no school should have allowed something like this to take place. They should have kicked the particpants out of school for a week or two.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:05pmIt’s the taker mentality. Take from everyone .. government, anyone who offends you….she needs to get a life, she’s out of highschool now. Maybe she‘s mad they didn’t prepare her properly for real life?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:45pmShe should go to the state fair and beat whitey.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:55pm.
”They hurt my feelings. No one asked me how I felt about it.”
It’s called “life” sweetheart. Get used to it.
By the way, I’m offended by pants on the ground, so would you tell
Report Post »your homies to start dressing properly so I feel better.
Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:07pmClearly, the girl dresses appropriately. It‘s SO wrong of you to try to hold her accountable for other people’s behavior.
I feel like I’m explaining basic civility to a bunch of Liberals. What happened to my beloved Blaze?
Report Post »chazde3
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:43pmSo wait, does that mean I can sue all the black people in my neighborhood for wearing baggy clothing?? They didn’t ask how I felt before walking around with their pants around their ankles.
Sounds to me like she just wants to cash in on a non-issue.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:41pmShe is seeking $75,000 in damages, citing emotional distress, depression, stress, crying, humiliation and a plethora of other emotions.
Righhht. Smells like mom is cooking this one up.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:08pmAgreed. She shouldn’t get any money out of this.
Still, maybe the superintendent and principle should have been fired.
Report Post »yanki161
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:39pm“She even considered leaving the school.” But she didn’t. She stayed. She graduated. Now she thinks she can cash in. Bang the gavel. Case closed.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:32pmThe video keeps showing the same three BLURRED pictures. There doesn’t seem to be any racial theme to the photos.
Report Post »CybrBart
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:32pm“the infamous “n-word,” which is highly offensive to African Americans.” How can this statement possibly be true. I hear this word all the time. And 99% of the time it’s being spoken by a black person. Usually in reference to another black person.
Report Post »andredegas
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:55pmWhile Blacks use the “n” word often it IS offensive to African Americans (who,as you know, are differant from Blacks)
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:14pmSo, all blacks use the word? Is that it?
Generalize much?
I wonder what ethnic idiocy we could say about you. I despise the sub-culture to which some blacks subscribe. It’s wrong. It’s anti-American. Most importantly, it’s NOT ALL BLACK people.
Just like some whites are racist douchebags (scroll through some of these comments to find examples). I’d be enraged if someone posted that I was a racist douche, just because some of you are.
Get it?
Report Post »U.S. Navy Veteran
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:27pmOh my God…[sniffle]…I think I’m going to cry…[uncontrollable sobbing]…
Report Post »Marcia
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:23pmYou know what? I don’t blame her. I had to look up “wigger” in Wikipedia. It’s a derogatory and offensive term and the school is STUPID for allowing it in the first place.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:29pmThe school may be stupid, but some of our youth is just as stupid. I have a (white) nephew down south that acted like a “gang member” and that’s what his “friends” called him, who were black. Don’t know why these people are upset, its the way most kids are going these days, black or white.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:01pmIt sounds like the school didn’t allow it: some students organized it on their own, and when they came to school they were forced to change their clothing. I think the offending students should have received a punishment (say, a day of suspension), but it‘s not the school’s responsibility to do anything more. Some kids will be terrible to other kids, and there’s only so much the school can (and should) do.
Report Post »Caerus
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:07pmMaybe it is just where I live, but when I graduated in 2005, ‘wigger’ was a term of pride by those white folks who wished they were black and acted/dressed as such. I knew a few people in high school, white boys who would dress up like their black friends because they all idolized the rapper culture.
Like I said, this might not be true everywhere, but around here it was not something derogatory. At least, not derogatory towards blacks, just somewhat derogatory towards whites.
Report Post »fliptailhunter
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:19pmShe is only doing it for collage money
Report Post »chazde3
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:56pm$75,000 would be a large collage. It would however put one through college depending on where you are going.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:18pmSomebody has to always try to keep the race war going. Shame on those the can’t learn to get along.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:17pmOr maybe she just found another way for her to make easy money!
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:16pmNow one question, who was to say that the kids don’t dress like this. The way I see kids dressing it sure would appear that way to me. So then, do we just have this black girl that is suing white kids because she thinks that they did her wrong because she didn’t like the way that they dressed? To me that would be a rascist act on her part. Not saying that it was that way but do we know for sure that it wasn’t?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:02pm“Now one question, who was to say that the kids don’t dress like this. ”
Pro-tip: Read the article next time. It was obviously planned by some students in an effort to be offensive. The only question is if the school did enough to stop/punish them.
Report Post »